WALKING THRU STORMS – PART 2
MARK 4:35-41
Ice Breaker: Have you ever been in a natural disaster or serious circumstance caused by a natural event? (floods, earthquakes, wind, blizzard, etc.) What happened? What did you learn from that experience?
Mark 4:35–41 35 That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” 36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” 39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. 40 He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” 41 They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”
1.Who was with Jesus? How did they react to the sudden emergency?
2. How do you typically respond to sudden difficulties or emergencies? Tell about a sudden emergency in your life and how you responded.
3. What was the first question in this story? What does this question reveal about the disciples’ state of mind?
4. Why do you think it is easy to blame God for not caring about our problems? How can we try to keep from feeling alone or feel like God doesn’t care?
5. For what purpose do you think Jesus remained asleep during the storm?
6. What are some reasons that God allows His children to experience the storms of life? (James1:2-4; Romans 8:17, 35-37; 2 Corinthians 12:9-10)
James 1:2–4 2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
Romans 8:17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
Romans 8:35–37 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
2 Corinthians 12:9–10 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
7. Why is it important to cry out to God with whatever we are feeling? (Psalm 18:6a; Psalm 88:1-2; Psalm 130:1-2)
Psalm 18:6a 6 In my distress I called to the Lord; I cried to my God for help.
Psalm 88:1–2 1 Lord, the God who saves me, day and night I cry out before you. 2 May my prayer come before you; turn your ear to my cry.
Psalm 130:1–2 1 Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord; 2 O Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy.
8. What do you think they expected Jesus to do? What did Jesus do?
9. What was the second question in this story? (Mark 4:40) Why do you think Jesus asked this question?
10. Think about times when you felt fearful; what would be your answer to Jesus’ question “Why are you so afraid?”
11. What was the third question in this story? How does this third question really answer the second question?
12. What happened earlier that should have given them faith in Him? (Mark 1:30-33, 40-42; 2:3-12; among others)
Mark 1:30–34 30 Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told Jesus about her. 31 So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them. 32 That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed. 33 The whole town gathered at the door, 34 and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was.
Mark 1:40–42 40 A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.” 41 Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” 42 Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cured.
Mark 2:2–12 2 So many gathered that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. 3 Some men came, bringing to him a paralytic, carried by four of them. 4 Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on. 5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” 6 Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, 7 “Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 8 Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, “Why are you thinking these things? 9 Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’? 10 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins….” He said to the paralytic, 11 “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” 12 He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”
13. What is the fourth question in this story? What evidence did Jesus provide that would have helped them answer this question?
14. How does going through storms help us to deepen our understanding of who Jesus is?
15. How does knowing that Jesus is in the proverbial “boat” with us, help us to handle difficult situations or help when we feel we are overwhelmed by circumstances?